Safety and automatic adjustment device for film-splicing apparatus



A. S. HOWELL.

SAFETY AND AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR FILIVI SPLICING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.28. I9I9.

Patented Mar. 25, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. S. HOWELL. SAFETY AND AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR FILM SPLICING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.Z8, I919 PmentedIIIar. 23, T920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET'Z.

WWI 1m" accident.

NITED STATES PATENT oFFIo ALBERT $UMMERS HOWELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO IBELL & HOWELL COMPANY,'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

v SAFETY AND AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR FILM-SPLICING APPAItATIJ'fi".

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 23, 1 F520,.

Application filed April 28, ,1919. Serial No. 293,251.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT S. HOWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement .in Safety and Automatic Adjustment Devices for Film-Splicing Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to safety and automatic adjustment devices for film splicing apparatus and has particular relation to splicing apparatus for cinematographic films of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent 1,275,431, granted to me August 13, 1918, Serial No. 133,770, filed November 27, 1916.

The apparatus disclosed in said patent includes a movable aw member and an operating member connected thereto by linkage and a second movable jaw member complemental of the jaw member first mentioned and means for coupling said jaw members together in clamping relation to cause the operating member to move both jaw members in unison through said link to cooperate with certain other elements of the machine to shear the film while clamped in the jaws, both of said jaw members acting as shearing elements in the operation of the machine for purposes fully set forth in-said patent.

U'ne of' the features of this invention relates to the provis ion of linkage between the operating member and the jawmember first mentioned, which linkage includes resilient means adapted to cushion the closing movement of the jaw member with relation to the operating member whereby in the event that the hand of the operator accidentally lies in the path of the closing movement of the jaw member the hand of the operator only needs to overcome the momentum of the aw member and the pressure of the resilient means during the initial shock to stop the jaw memher, the resilient linkage taking up the momentum of the operating member gradually. Thus the hand of the operator is saved from permanent injury and the machine is less liableto derangement in the event of such an The same holds true when both jaw members are coupled together. This resilient linkage also operates to provide an automatic pressure adjustment for the jaw member whereby when the jaw member is operated with other elements of the machine, all as fully described in said patent, to glue the prepared ends of the film together by applying pressure to the glued overlapping ends of the film, the linkage 'maintains the pressure practically constant regardless of the momentum of the operating member.

Anotherfeature relates to the provision of adjusting means whereby the pressure of the resilient linkage may be varied according to conditions to exert the proper pressure upon the glued overlapping ends of the film.

The above features and certain other features hereinafter appearing are embodied in the preferred form of my invention hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and are eflected by certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangement of parts particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawingsa Figure 1 is a sectional view in side elevation of a film splicing apparatus embodying the features of my invention Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is'an enlarged view in side elevation of the resilient link above referred to.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the various views.

In the drawings 1 indicates a vertical standard at the top of which a horiaontally disposed varbor 2 is mounted, which arborextends outwardly of the standard on both sides thereof. Pivotally mounted on said arbor on one side of the standard is a jaw member 3 which extends forwardly and rearward ly of the arbor. The hub of this jaw member abuts the standard 1 with its one end and a washer 4: with its other end, which washer is secured to the adj acent end of arbor 2 by a headed screw 5. Pivotally mounted on the outwardly extending hub of jaw member 3 is a second jaw member 6 whose hub is disposed between the body of jaw member 3 and washer 4. The jaw member 6 is complemental of jaw member 3 and this jaw member 6 is disposed below the forward end of jaw member 3. Jaw plates 8 are secured to the forward ends of their jaw .9 therebetween when the forward ends of these jaw members are broughttogether. See Fig. 1.

The jaw member 6 rests in horizontal po sition upon a stud 10 mounted on the standard and projecting laterally therefrom below jaw member 6. A locking lever 11 is pivotally mounted upon a stud 12 mounted 011 jaw member 6 and extending laterally therefrom. This lever is provided with two notches 13 and 14, notch 13 being disposed above stud 12 and notch 14: being disposed below the stud. The notch 13 is adapted to be engaged by a projection 15 of jaw member 3, and the notch 14c is adapted to be engaged by the outer end of stud 10, the arrangement being such that when the lever 11 is positioned as shown in Fig. 1 the notch 14 is engaged with stud 10 to hold the jaw member 6 in its horizontal position resting on said stud, and when the lever is moved to disengage notch 14 with stud 10 the notch 13 engages projection 15 to-lock the jaw members together in clamping relation whereby the jaw members are moved together with the film clamped therebetween.

Pivotally mounted on arbor 2 on the side of the standard opposite that on which jaw members 3 and 6 lie is a third jaw member 16 the hub of which abuts the standard and a washer 17, secured to the adjacent end of the arbor by a headed screw 18. This jaw member 16 7 extends forwardly and rear wardly of arbor 2 and a jaw plate 19 is secured at the forward end thereof which is complemental of another jaw plate 20 disposed below the jaw plate 19 and secured to a forwardly projecting portion 21 of the standard in the same plane as is the plate. and of jaw member 6 when the jaw member rests in its horizontal position on stud 10 as hereinbetore described. The jaw plates 8, l9, and 20 are disposed to shear both ends of the film in overlapping arrangement, one end of which is held between jaw plates 8 and the other of which is held between jaw plates 19 and 20, and to clamp these sheared edges together after they have been properly prepared and glued. all as fully described and set forth in said above mentioned patent.

A second horizontal arbor 22 is mounted on the standard below arbor 2 and is dis posed in parallelism therewith. This arbor extends outwardly from the standard on either side thereof, and an operating lever 23 is pivotally mounted at a point between its ends upon the arbor 22 on each side of the standard, washers 24 secured at the ends of thisarbor by headed screws 25 maintaining these levers on the arbor. These levers extend substantially vertically and links 26 have their one ends pivotally mounted upon respective shouldered and headed studs 27 screw threaded into the upper ends of respective levers 23. Each link is provided with a longitudinal slide 28 extending from the end thereof opposite the stud 27 to a point adjacent the middle of the link. A cap 29 is secured upon each link opposite the stud 27 by headed screws '30 and closes that end of the slide, and mounted for sliding movement in the slide 28 of each link is a slide block 31 which is bored on an axis parallel to stud 27 as designated at 3 see Fig. 4. Mounted for rotation within this bore of each slide block is a headed eccentric stud 33, the shank of which is smaller and is disposed eccentrically with respect to the portion engaged in the slide block. The shanks of these studs are engaged in respective split bores formed at the rearwardly extending ends of jaw members 3 and 16, the split bore portion of each jaw member being clamped on the respective shank by a headed screw 3a as is usual. Each link is bored longitudinally toward the stud 27 from the end of the slide 28 adjacent the middle of the link as designated at 35. Disposed within these bores are coiled compression springs 36 which abut thebottom of the respective bores and the respective slide blocks with their opposite ends to normally maintain said slide blocks at the outer ends of the slides 28 abutting, respective caps 29. See Fig. 4. The slide blocks are provided with stems 37 which are encircled by respective of said springs to maintain the outer ends thereof in proper position.

Stops 38 are mounted on an arbor 39, mounted on and extending outwardly on opposite sides of the standard 1, and these stops are disposed forwardly of and above the pivotal axes of respective levers 23 to be engaged by the respective lovers to limit the opening movement of these levers. Stops 40 are formed on the standard 1 and project outwardly therefrom on both sides thereof and are disposed forwardly and below the pivotal axes of the respective levers 23 to be engaged by the respective levers to limit the closing movements thereof. A rod 11 has its upper end pivotally mounted to the standard on each side thereof on axes parallel to the arbor 22. These rods extend downwardly and have their lower ends slidably engaged in bores of respective blocks 42 pivotally mounted on respective levers 23. Coiled compression springs 4-3 encircle respective rods 41 and abut respective blocks 42 and enlarged portions 44; formed at the further ends of rod 41 adjacent the pivotal mountings thereof. The rods 41 are so arranged that when the lcvers are against stops,38 the springs lie in a radial plane ot the arbor 22 and do not exert influence upon levers 23 to move the same pivotally upon arbor 22, and when the levers 23 are moved ill tt ll away from steps 38 toward stops 40 the springs move'out of said'radial plane and exert influence to move the levers toward stops. 4:0 to move jaw members 8 and 16 to their closed positions. The lower ends of the levers 23 are preferably equipped to be manipulated by the feet of the operator as set forth in said above mentioned patent.

ln the operation of the device as one of the levers 23 is moved from closed position into open position the motion is transmitted through the link by cap 29 pulling upon the respective slide block. This action is posi- 'tive as will be noted. When one of the levers 23 is moved from open position the motion is transmitted through the respective link and spring 36 to the slide block 31 thus cushioning the closing movement of the jaw members with relation to the respective operating levers. When the jaw memher (3 is clamped in closed relation with jaw member 8 the same action takes place with relation to both jaw members.

lln addition the springs 36act to con trol the pressure of the jaw member 3 when it is used to clamp the gluedends or the dim together on jaw plate 20. hy'relieving the momentum of the respective lever. 23 the pressure applied to the glued ends ot the tilm is not adected by the momentum of the respective lever 28.

The eccentric studs 33 are preterably adjusted so that when the respective levers 23 and jaw members 3 and 16 are in closed position'clamping the film the slide blocks are teparated slightly from respective caps 29.

its the operating levers 23 reach their closed position the respective stops at) arrest the closing movement of the same, and it will be noted that-in the event that either jaw member is obstructed in its closing movement the respective lever 28, being only allowed a limited closing movement is limited in compressing spring 36, "lthus the springs 3tl-cannot be so compressed that a positive closing connection is termed between the operating lever and the jaw membet:

l l 'hile l have herein shown and particu larly described the preterred embodiment ol ll ll my inve on ll do not wish to be limited to the pro are details at rons'truction shown as rhann 'es may read 'hout dene made w parting trom the spirit eat my invent. having thus described my inventi i as new and desire to secure by l? aten t the :lollowing 2 l, iilm s licin machine l movably menu 7 menu" in arm incl u ding cushion the elect. member with reli ,nlllllltllv 2. A film splicing machine including a pivoted jaw -member; a pivoted operating lever; and linkage between said member and lever including resilient means operating to cushion the closing movement of said jaw member with relation to said lever.

3. A film splicing machine including a movably mounted jaw member; a movably mounted operating member; a link mounted on one of said members and provided with a slide closed at both ends disposed substantially parallel to the direction of movement transmitted from the operating member to the. jaw member; a slide block secured to the other member and engaged in said slide; and a spring engaging the link and slide block to normally maintain said slide block at one end of said slide and adapted to cushion the closing movement ct said aw member wlth relat on to said operating member.

4. A fill splicing machine including a p voted aw member; a pivoted operating till dti

lever; a link pivoted to said lever and provided with a longitudinal slide closed at both ends; a slide block pivoted to the other member and engaged in said slide; and a spring engaging the link and slide block to normally maintain said slide block at one end of said slide and adapted to cushion the I closing movement of said jaw member with relation to said operating memben it. it :lilm splicing machine including a 111i movably mounted jaw member; movably mounted operating member; linkage tween said members including means operating to cushion the closi ment or said jaw member with said operating member; and to be engr "ed by said opera limit the 13 using movement thereof,

l1 .El. tilm spacing machine inc pivoted w member; a p voted r lever; age between said men lever inc o. n. l m rttlll tj mac movablv morn ted jaw memb r ltd ltltl ltlltl l. til ll slide Closed at both ends disposed substantially parallel to the direction of movement transmitted from the operating member to the jaw member; a slide bloc-k secured to the other member and engaged in said slide;

a spring engaging the link and slide block to normally maintain said slide block at one end of said slide and adapted to cushion the closing movement of said jaw member with relation to said operating member; and a stop adapted to be engaged by said operating member to limit the closing movement thereof.

9. A film splicing machine including a' pivoted jaw member; a pivoted operating lever; a link pivoted to said lever and rovided with a longitudinal slide closed at both ends; a slide block pivoted to the other member and engaged-in said slide; a spring engaging the link and slide block to normally maintain said slide block at one end of said slide and adapted to cushion the closing movement of said jaw member with relation to said operating member; and a stop adapted to be engaged by said operating member to limit closing movement thereof.

10. A film splicing machine including a movably mounted jaw member; a second movably mounted jaw member complemental to said first mentioned jaw member; means for detachably securing said jaw members together in clamping relation; a movably mounted operating member; linkage between said first mentioned jaw member and said operating member including resilient means operating to cushion the movement of said jaw members in one direction with relation to said lever; and a stop adapted to be engaged by said operating member to limit the closing movement thereof.

In witness whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 26th day of April, 1919, A. D.

ALBERT SUMMERS HOWELL. 

